Synchronized actuator having multiple motors for downhole well tool

An actuator for actuating a member of a downhole tool used in a well, the actuator comprising:

• a first screw being rotatable and having a first proximal end;
• a first motor being configured to produce a first drive to rotate a first drive shaft;
• a first gear having a first spline connection to the first drive shaft and the first proximal end of the first screw, the first gear being rotatable and transferring first rotation to the first screw;
• a second screw being rotatable and having a second proximal end;
• a second motor being configured to produce a second drive to rotate a second drive shaft;
• a second gear having a second spline connection to the second drive shaft and the second proximal end, the second gear being rotatable and transferring second rotation to the second screw;
• a third gear, wherein the third gear is a first intermediate gear engaged between the first and second gears and being configured to synchronize the first and second rotations of the first and second screws as a synchronized rotation produced by at least one of the first and second drives;
• and
• a yoke disposed on the first and second screws and being displaceable thereon by the synchronized rotation.

A downhole tool for use in a well, the downhole tool comprising:

• an actuator comprising:
• a first motor being configured to produce a first drive;
• a first gear being rotatable in association with the first drive;
• a second motor being configured to produce a second drive;
• a second gear being rotatable in association with the second drive;
• a first roto-linear drive having a third gear;
• a second roto-linear drive having a fourth gear;
• an intermediate gear being rotatable and having first and second portions, the first portion of the intermediate gear engaged between the first and second gears and being configured to synchronize the first and second drives as a synchronized drive, the second portion of the intermediate gear engaged between the third and fourth gears and being configured to transfer the synchronized drive to a synchronized rotation for the first and second roto-linear drives;
• and
• a yoke disposed on the first and second roto-linear drives and being displaceable thereon by the synchronized rotation produced by at least one of the first and second drives;
• and
• an actuatable member of the downhole tool connected to the yoke of the actuator and being actuatable in response to the displacement of the yoke.